Due to major flooding in our area, the power may be cut from my house.
How should I keep the water airated? The pet store is closed and I can't get a battery operated air pump.
Also we are under a "Boil water advisory". My tank params are good right now. (My tank FINALY finished cycling not to long ago. )
So I'm safe, but I have no idea how long this will last, and how long a possible power outtage will last.
Any information, tips, do's and don'ts are appreciated.
Thanks.

Gosh, you are not living in the floor area up in PA right now, are you? That really looked horrible, the water coming up the 2. floor in some houses!

Its a bit hard without a batterie operated pump. Have you tried a bait/tackle shop? I get those airpumps there all the time, they use it mostly for bait fish.
Other than that, disturbing the water surface on a regular basis is really all that needed. When I didn't have the airpumps, I used a spoon or anything really, and just swish around the water surface a little bit. Maybe every 5 minutes or so will do. The surface is really the biggest spot where oxygen exchange takes place.

Oh, and please no feeding the fish during long power outages. The filter aren't working to take care of any accumulating ammonia and such. They'll do just fine for a few days with no food. A bottle of water conditioner also will come very handy in times like that.

Hope you are getting through the flooding without any major harm.

I will keep you and all those in the very wet area in my prayers, thats for sure. I hope this passes soon and I hope you do not have problems with your fish!

I'm not in PA, but its pretty bad in binghamton and vestal and all the surronding areas.
I live on a hill, but the saturated ground is causing seepage in my basment, nearer to town, so I still have power, but my friend from "The middle of no where" on a hill, her power.. thingie, is on the bottom of the hill and underwater, so she's staying with me.
I had already planned to not feed the fish, and haven't since last night because I'm so freaking paranoied.

Bridges and roads are being washed out all over, but the damage hasn't hit me home yet, in endicott & windsor the water is up to roof tops in some places. The little lumps that are supposed to keep the water in the river are .. not visable. Its pretty errie.
Should I need to evacuate, though it is doubtfull, I'd have five cats to pile into 3 carriers, two hamsters, and of course my fish. Its positivly stupid, but you'd have to pull me out kicking and screaming if I didn't have my pets.
It would be a freakish event, flooding all the way up where I live...
Worse comes to worse, I'd have to boil water and cool it for a water change.
I'm glad for that.
Come to think of it, watching the fish by candle light would be something neat...

A bridge in delaware county collapsed and killed 2 truck drivers
Oh dear..
There is a HOUSE floating down the river on TV.

I may not need any luck or prayers, but I'm postive the people in the lower parts of the towns need them

I will say my prayers for you and every one eles in that area. Also to all you animals..

Thanks. Down in the lower part of town, I did the stupid thing and went and got pictures.
I can't help myself with things like that. I was standing on the dry spot of the street filming the water creep up my feet. Out side at home, there were major sirens (Not to mention a gun shot sound while we where heading toward the car..), and I hope the bridge didn't go out. I could touch the water on that thing I had wanted to.
I was thinking maybe we could move this into the chatter box, but I don't have enough posts to post there anyhow.

I have no idea what a bridge sounds like when its going out, but even still, its a creepy thought...

My brother has a hand held fan that can be held to ripple the surface of the water. Would that help the gas exchange?

Hmmm, you may have to go Macguiver on this one.

Do you have...
A battery Operated fan (bigger then the Hand held, with a grate on the front, like a box fan. Not as big though) Kind of like the kind they put on desks at work places
Some Duct Tape, or similar.
A Plastic bag (Grocery or similar)
And a tube to lead into the fish water.

I don't know if it would work but maybe if you took the bag and taped it to the front of the fan, leaving some space for the air to also go around. Then Cut a small hole in the bag and lead the tube through it. Tape the tube to the bag and turn it on low, it might send enough air through the tube to create a little bit of circulation. Though this is only in theaory, as I have never tried it myself....

Yes I have to much time on my hands

Hmm..
I've tried something simlar to that, for whatever assinine reason unrelated to fish tanks.
The air pressure isn't enough to create bubbles.

Still though, quite the idea.

/bow